Over the last few months, the media has been saturated with reports and images of acts of mass violence perpetrated in communities across the United States. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there had been more than 470 mass shootings in the United States as of September 2022; this averages out to 13 mass shootings per week. (A mass shooting is defined as an event where “at least four people are shot, either injured or killed, not including the shooter.”) Since May, there have been mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas; Buffalo, New York; and Highland Park, Illinois, resulting in the deaths of 40 people. While mass violence events are not limited to mass shootings, mass shootings are the most prevalent form of mass violence in the United States. These incidents are devastating to law enforcement agencies and their communities who must grapple with the aftermath of these horrific events. As they strive to reclaim safety and peace and to begin the long process of healing, IACP is here to help.

With few national resources to provide guidance to police leaders in the hours, days, and months following a mass violence tragedy, the U.S. Department of Justice–Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) have partnered to create the Mass Violence Advisory Initiative (MVAI). The MVAI provides peer-to-peer assistance to law enforcement leaders in the aftermath of a mass violence event in order to maximize the safety and wellness of officers and other first responders, and to help the community heal. The MVAI shares promising practices for communicating with community members; effectively engaging with the media; and collaborating with local, state, and federal partners.

Acts of mass violence create unique challenges for law enforcement leaders tasked with keeping their communities and officers safe during a time of intense pressure and emotion. When a mass violence incident occurs, the police are charged with numerous responsibilities, such as coordinating the response, securing the scene, ensuring the safety of the community, responding to the media, updating government officials, communicating with victims, and investigating the incident. Law enforcement leaders are often taken aback by these unprecedented complexities and the intense, widespread scrutiny that often envelops the agency and the community following a mass violence tragedy. “No community wants a tragedy like this, but with the Mass Violence Advisory Initiative, communities will not have to face this alone and will have the resources they need to begin the healing process,” said then-IACP President Dwight Henninger, Chief of Police, Vail, Colorado, Police Department.